V personality Georgia Harrison has told how her ex-partner Stephen Bear took away her “innocent spark” and left her with the fear that he might sell more footage after posting revenge porn online.
The former Love Island star recalled how “several men” approached her saying they saw the private sex video before discovering it went viral on the internet.
Bear was sentenced to 21 months in prison earlier this month for sharing the video on the Fans only website without permission from Harrison.
Harrison said going to court was “empowering” and Bear’s conviction helped “confirm” her experience — and she is now calling for a change in the law to make it easier for victims to get justice.
Speaking on the BBC Sunday With Laura Kuensberg program, Harrison said at least five women reach out to her every day to share their own revenge porn ordeal, warning it is “so common”.
She said: “Before I actually saw the video go viral on the internet, I had several men tell me they showed it. So I guess when I saw it was on OnlyFans it was the last straw for me.
“I just think in a way it took away an innocent kind of spark that I always had.
“I was a very trusting person and I was always someone who just saw the best in everything, and when that happened it really lowered my self-esteem and it really lowered the way I value myself, especially in relationships.
“(Going to court) was tough, and it was really scary… But when I actually got to the courtroom, it almost empowered me.
“I’ve been silenced for so long and not only have I had a chance to speak to a judge and really tell the truth, I’ve had to do that with him in the room and his family in the room, and it was nice to validate the truth.
“I have taken that power back.
“My case in general has the British public, but it is so ordinary – so ordinary.
“Since this happened to me, I’ve become someone victims contact, and I get to see at least five women a day – mostly victims, but sometimes mothers of victims or family members wanting advice.
“You just wouldn’t believe how big this is and how many people are affected by it.”
The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 made it a criminal offense to publicly disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress and without consent.
Harrison is calling for the requirement to prove intent to be removed from the law, on the basis that any instance of revenge porn is likely to cause distress to the victim.
She said she “enjoys making a difference” by talking about her experience — even declining to rule out a foray into politics.
“It’s definitely not something I expected in my career, but I really enjoyed making a difference,” said Harrison.
The 28-year-old model previously revealed that she developed cysts and later went into septic shock after discovering Bear’s heinous crime.
Her documentary, broadcast on ITV Monday, Revenge Porn: Georgia Vs Bear, looks at her personal story.
Bear, 33, denied all charges, but was found guilty of voyeurism and twice posting private photos and videos with intent to cause distress.